Definitions for spermaceti
ˌspɜr məˈsɛt i, -ˈsi tisper·ma·ceti

Princeton's WordNetRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. spermacetinoun

   a white waxy substance from oil of the sperm whale

WiktionaryRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. spermacetinoun

   A wax obtained from the head of sperm whales. It is used to make cosmetics etc.

Samuel Johnson's DictionaryRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. SPERMACETInoun

   A particular sort of whale affords the oil whence this is made; and that is very improperly called sperma, because it is only the oil which comes from the head of which it can be made. It is changed from what it is naturally, the oil itself being very brown and rank. The peculiar property of it is to shoot into flakes, not much unlike the crystallization of salts; but in this state ’tis yellow, and has a certain rankness, from which it is freed by squeezing it between warm metalline plates in a press, and afterwards exposing the remainder to the open air: at length it becomes perfectly pure, inodorous, flaky, smooth, white, and in some measure transparent. John Quincy

   Etymology: Latin.

WikipediaRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. Spermaceti

   Spermaceti is a waxy substance found in the head cavities of the sperm whale (and, in smaller quantities, in the oils of other whales). Spermaceti is created in the spermaceti organ inside the whale's head. This organ may contain as much as 1,900 litres (500 US gal) of spermaceti. It has been extracted by whalers since the 17th century for human use in cosmetics, textiles, and candles. Theories for the spermaceti organ's biological function suggest that it may control buoyancy, may act as a focusing apparatus for the whale's sense of echolocation, or possibly both. There has been concrete evidence to support both theories. The buoyancy theory holds that the sperm whale is capable of heating the spermaceti, lowering its density and thus allowing the whale to float; in order for the whale to sink again, it must take water into its blowhole which cools the spermaceti into a denser solid. This claim has been called into question by recent research which indicates a lack of biological structures to support this heat exchange, as well as the fact that the change in density is too small to be meaningful until the organ grows to huge size. Measurement of the proportion of wax esters retained by a harvested sperm whale accurately described the age and future life expectancy of a given individual. The proportion of wax esters in the spermaceti organ increases with the age of the whale: 38–51% in calves, 58–87% in adult females, and 71–94% in adult males.Spermaceti wax is extracted from sperm oil by crystallisation at 6 °C (43 °F), when treated by pressure and a chemical solution of caustic alkali. Spermaceti forms brilliant white crystals that are hard but oily to the touch, and are devoid of taste or smell, making it very useful as an ingredient in cosmetics, leatherworking, and lubricants. The substance was also used in making candles of a standard photometric value, in the dressing of fabrics, and as a pharmaceutical excipient, especially in cerates and ointments. The whaling industry in the 17th and 18th centuries was developed to find, harvest and refine the contents of the head of a sperm whale. The crews seeking spermaceti routinely left on three-year tours on several oceans. Cetaceous lamp oil was a commodity that created many maritime fortunes. The light produced by a single pure spermaceti source (candle) became the standard measurement of "candlepower" for another century. Candlepower, a photometric unit defined in the United Kingdom Act of Parliament Metropolitan Gas Act 1860 and adopted at the International Electrotechnical Conference of 1883, was based on the light produced by a pure spermaceti candle.

ChatGPTRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. spermaceti

   Spermaceti is a waxy substance found in the head cavity of sperm whales and was once commonly used in the production of candles, cosmetics, and lubricants. The compound, consisting mainly of wax esters and a minor proportion of triglycerides, is named after the Latin word for sperm whale - "spermacetus". Its unique properties, such as its high melting point and brightness when burnt, made it highly valuable in the past. The whaling industry in the 18th century was largely driven by the demand for spermaceti.

Webster DictionaryRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. Spermacetinoun

   a white waxy substance obtained from cavities in the head of the sperm whale, and used making candles, oilments, cosmetics, etc. It consists essentially of ethereal salts of palmitic acid with ethal and other hydrocarbon bases. The substance of spermaceti after the removal of certain impurities is sometimes called cetin

2. Etymology: [L. sperma sperm + cetus,gen. ceti, any large sea animal, a whale, Gr. . See Sperm, Cetaceous.]

WikidataRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. Spermaceti

   Spermaceti is a wax that is most often found in the head cavities of the sperm whale. Originally mistaken for the whale's sperm, spermaceti is created in the spermaceti organ inside the whale's head. Two theories for the spermaceti organ's biological function suggest it controls buoyancy, or acts as a focusing apparatus for the whale's sense of echolocation. There has been concrete evidence to confirm both theories. The buoyancy theory holds that the sperm whale is capable of heating the spermaceti, lowering its density and thus allowing the whale to float; in order for the whale to sink down again, it must take water into its blowhole which cools the spermaceti into a denser solid. This claim, however, has been called into question by recent research which indicates a lack of biological structures to support this heat exchange, as well as the fact the change in density is too small to be meaningful until the organ grows to huge size. The proportion of wax esters in the spermaceti organ increases with the age of the whale: 38-51% in calves, 58-87% in adult females, and 71-94% in adult males. Spermaceti wax is extracted from sperm oil by crystallisation at 6 °C, when treated by pressure and a chemical solution of caustic alkali. Spermaceti forms brilliant white crystals that are hard but oily to the touch, and are devoid of taste or smell, making it very useful as an ingredient in cosmetics, leatherworking, and lubricants. The substance was also used in making candles of a standard photometric value, in the dressing of fabrics, and as a pharmaceutical excipient, especially in cerates and ointments. The candlepower was a photometric unit defined in the English Metropolitan Gas Act 1860 and adopted at the International Electrotechnical Conference of 1883. It depended upon a standardised pure spermaceti candle.

Chambers 20th Century DictionaryRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. Spermaceti

   sper-ma-set′i, or-sē′tī, n. a waxy matter obtained mixed with oil from the head of the sperm-whale—purified by draining off the oil and repeatedly washing with hot water and weak boiling potash-lye.—adj. derived from, or yielding, spermaceti.—n. Spermacet′i-whale, the sperm-whale. [L. sperma, cētus, a whale—Gr. kētos.]

The Nuttall EncyclopediaRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. Spermaceti

   a white waxy matter obtained in an oily state from the head of the sperm-whale inhabiting the Pacific and Indian Oceans; candles made of it yield a particularly steady and bright light.

Matched Categories

1. • Wax

Anagrams for spermaceti »

1. imprecates

How to pronounce spermaceti?

1. Alex

   US English

   David

   US English

   Mark

   US English

   Daniel

   British

   Libby

   British

   Mia

   British

   Karen

   Australian

   Hayley

   Australian

   Natasha

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   Veena

   Indian

   Priya

   Indian

   Neerja

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   Zira

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   Oliver

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   Wendy

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   Fred

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   Tessa

   South African

How to say spermaceti in sign language?

Numerology

1. Chaldean Numerology

   The numerical value of spermaceti in Chaldean Numerology is: 9

2. Pythagorean Numerology

   The numerical value of spermaceti in Pythagorean Numerology is: 1

References

1. ^ Princeton's WordNet
   http://wordnetweb.princeton.edu/perl/webwn?s=spermaceti
2. ^ Wiktionary
   https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Spermaceti
3. ^ Samuel Johnson's Dictionary
   https://johnsonsdictionaryonline.com/views/search.php?term=spermaceti
4. ^ Wikipedia
   https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spermaceti
5. ^ ChatGPT
   https://chat.openai.com
6. ^ Webster Dictionary
   https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/spermaceti
7. ^ Wikidata
   https://www.wikidata.org/w/index.php?search=spermaceti
8. ^ Chambers 20th Century Dictionary
   https://www.gutenberg.org/files/37683/37683-h/37683-h.htm#:~:text=spermaceti
9. ^ The Nuttall Encyclopedia
   https://www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/12342/pg12342-images.html#Spermaceti